Theodor hoermann



(No Model.)

T HOERMANN.

BIGYGLE BELL;

No. 577,618; Patented Peb.23,1897;

Nirnn STATES ATENT FFICE.

THEODOR HOERMANN, OF BERLIN VILLAGE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM M.BOWERS AND THOMAS J. BATES, JR., OF SAME PLACE.

BICYCLE-BELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,618, dated February23, 1897.

Application filed October 30,1896. fierlal No. 610,560. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODOR HOERMANN, a citizen of Germany, and aresident of Berlin Village, Queens county, New York, have invented anImproved Bicycle-Bell, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to a bicycle-bell of the class in which theclapper is actuated by a temporary engagement of its actuating mechanismwith the wheel-tire.

By my invention the bell is so placed and operated that it will notinterfere with the use of a brake, while, moreover, the actuatingmechanism is such that a positive and reliable motion will betransmitted to the clapper.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forepart of a bicycle provided with my improved bell. Fig. 2 is front viewthereof; Fig. 3, a side view, partly in section, of the bell detached;Fig. 4, a section on line 4. 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an inner face view ofbase-plate a, showing the actuating mechanism partly in section; andFig. 6, a detail of cam-wheel e.

The letter a represents a base-plate provided with a tapped post a, towhich the gong b is attached by screw 19'. On its outer side the plate ais made with a tubular bearing or knuckle a engaged by one end of apivot c, the other end of which is adapted to be attached to thebicycle-fork A by clasp c. The bell is thus attached to the bicycle insuch a manner that it may be tilted toward and away from the wheel-tireB, to the side of which it is hung, Fig. 2. The extent of this tiltingmotion is limited by a pin 0 on pivot c, that engages a notch a ofknuckle (11 Fig. 4.. l u

The plate a. is slotted, as at a and through this slot projectsoutwardly the rim of a laterally-extending wheel 6, which turns in thepost a and in a bearing a projecting from the inner face of plate a. Thewheel 6 is provided with an interior cam 6', Fig. 6, which is engaged byone arm of a bell-crank f, pivoted to plate a at f. The bell-crank isactuated, moreover, by a spring g and is connected at its free arm tothe clapper h, adapted to strike the gong b.

The outwardly-extending rim or section of wheel 6 is placed opposite theside of the tire B, but is normally held away from such tire by a springi, which has a tendency to tilt the bell with its lower end outwardly.If the bell is to be sounded, it is tilted in an opposite direction, sothat the wheel 6 will contact with the tire B and will be rapidlyrevolved by the same. This tilting of the bell is effected by means of ahand-stringy, which is attached to an arm a of plate a and extends towithin easy reach of the rider. As the wheel e is rotated by tire Bitwill, in connection with spring g, cause the bell-crank f to be rapidlyvibrated, so as to vibrate the clapper and sound the alarm. The alarmwill be sounded as long as a pull is exerted upon the hand-rope and willcease as soon as such pull is relaxed, because the spring '5 will thenbe free to tilt the bell away from the tire.

It will be seen that as my improved bell is placed at and engages theside of the tire B it will not interfere with the free application anduse of a brake, Moreover, my improved mechanism is such that the clapperis positively actuated and is under the full control of the rider.

What I claim is 1. The combination in a bicycle-bell of a gong with acam-wheel adapted to engage the side of the tire, a clapper actuated bysaid wheel, and a spring-knuckle that connects the gong to thebicycle-frame and permits a lateral tilting motion of the gong,substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a tilting base-plate having a knuckle, with apivot engaging the same, means for connecting said pivot to thebicycle-frame, means for limiting the tilting motion of the base-plate,a cam-wheel projecting through the base-plate, a spring-actuatedbell-crank engaging the same, and a clapper actuated by the bell-crank,substantially as specified.

THEODOR I-IOERMANN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM SoHULz, F. v. BRIESEN.

